The lights shine, the chorus begins, the crowd silences and the show starts. SpongeBob the Musical is a two-and-a-half-hour show including various songs by artists like Lady Antebellum, Cindy Lauper, Panic at the Disco and John Legend.
On February 20th, the opening show, the crowd was in for a pleasant surprise. The musical consisted of well-developed props, sound effects, and BHS’s biggest light display.
“The audience should definitely be looking forward to the acting performance, however, they should also look for the incredible details in the set and the lighting!” said set designer and actor Kallen Hintz. The teachers’ and students’ deeply shared passion for theatre is effortlessly detected on the stage. Their voices are strong, their actions are confident, and the overall production is smooth and impressive.
Compared to previous BHS musicals, SpongeBob consists of extremely unique characters. Each part contrasts with the other, making the show unpredictable and fun to watch.
“Spongebob is obviously based on a cartoon, and so it takes a lot of energy to portray that cartoon energy,” said Austin Saxowsky, playing the lead role as Spongebob.
One of the most show-stopping parts of the play was the chorus. Each song fits the scene, and each person singing the song fits the part.
After 20 years of experience in theatre departments, Saylor claims Spongebob the Musical is different from anything else he’s done before.
“I think this is probably the – hate to say it, but the best chorus,” says Music Director Brian Saylor.
Bismarck High School’s theatre department left an impressionable performance, but it was not easy. Whether a person is making props, in the pit orchestra, playing a main character, or in tech, every role is crucial in the development of the play.
“Every person plays a significant role in how the show runs,” Hintz said. Crew member and co-actress Ahviana Harris adds, “Everybody in the cast is very fun, and our tech crew is very talented. We are all individuals with good work ethic.”
Every practice or rehearsal lasts hours and takes place outside of the school day, requiring serious commitment from students. With less than two months to rehearse, every person involved must make a significant contribution to the play for it to be successful.
“The struggle is always, how do you learn a whole show and bring it together in a short amount of time?” said Saylor.
Although putting the show together was stressful at times, Harris claims that’s what makes it worth it.
“The stress is part of the payoff,” Harris said.
Acting and singing on stage can seem like a daunting task for many students, but Saxowsky advises “Don’t be afraid, just dive in.”
Throughout rehearsals, every student involved had the chance to make closer relationships with their co-actors and mentors. This year’s seniors stepped up hugely, creating an inviting environment for underclassmen.
Saxowsky credits Saylor and Musical Director Jennifer Bedard for helping make the musical possible.
“ I just want to recognize Mike and Bedard for all the things they do for our theatre department,” Saxowsky continues, “and for the time they spend tackling seemingly impossible tasks just to make the show a fraction better! Thank you!”
